Cleaning Services - UK Compliance

COSHH Assessment for Window Cleaners - Completed for Your Business

A completed COSHH assessment for window cleaners, generated from your product list. Covers window cleaning chemicals, detergents and any purification or treatment chemicals used in water fed pole systems.

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8 documents included
HSE compliant
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Every self-employed person in the UK needs this

Under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, every self-employed person whose work could pose a risk to themselves or others is legally required to have health and safety documentation in place.

This is not a large-business requirement. It applies to sole traders, one-person businesses, home studios, and mobile workers equally. The size of your business does not change the legal obligation.

Sole traders and one-person businesses Working alone does not exempt you. If you use chemicals or see clients, the obligations apply in full.
Mobile and home-based workers Working from home or visiting clients does not reduce your compliance requirements - it often adds to them.
Chair renters and freelancers Renting a chair or working as a freelancer through a third party does not transfer your compliance obligations to them.
New businesses and established ones Whether you started last month or have been trading for years, you need documentation in place.
Your legal obligation

Why window cleaners need a COSHH assessment

The cleaning products used in window cleaning - window cleaning solutions, detergents, and specialist glass treatments - contain surfactants and other chemical ingredients that fall under COSHH regulations. While these products are generally less hazardous than heavy industrial cleaning chemicals, they still require assessment and documentation where they present occupational health risks with regular use. || Window cleaners using water fed pole systems with on-board water purification also need to assess any chemicals involved in the purification process and the handling of purification equipment. Skin contact with cleaning solutions throughout a working day of window cleaning is a documented cause of occupational contact dermatitis. || A COSHH assessment covering every product in regular use is a legal requirement for self-employed window cleaners.
Health and safety compliance documents
The real problem

Window cleaners often have no COSHH documentation for the products they use daily

Daily exposure to window cleaning chemicals without formal COSHH assessment is the norm rather than the exception in the window cleaning industry. CompliantDocs generates your COSHH assessment from the products you tell us you use, quickly and accurately.
60 minutes
How long window cleaners spend on COSHH documentation. Our service does it in minutes.
Your trade, specifically

The risks and requirements specific to your work

Window cleaners work daily with water-fed pole systems, squeegees, microfibre cloths and ladders, but the COSHH hazards extend far beyond water. You handle concentrated window cleaning solutions containing quaternary ammonium compounds and alcohol-based formulations that cause skin irritation and respiratory sensitisation. Deionised water systems involve occasional exposure to biocides preventing algae growth in tanks. Many window cleaners use pressure washers with detergent concentrates containing surfactants and degreasers. Traditional squeegee blade cleaners often contain methylene chloride or similar solvents. Working at height on ladders and scaffolding introduces fall risks when handling slippery surfaces. Winter work involves antifreeze additives in cleaning solutions, increasing dermatitis risk on cold, cracked skin. Summer UV exposure compounds chemical absorption through damaged skin barriers. Residential and commercial premises may contain asbestos on windowsills or frames, requiring awareness protocols. Your specific COSHH Assessment must address skin contact as the primary exposure route, inhalation risks in enclosed conservatories, and the cumulative effect of repeated chemical exposure across multiple properties daily. This pack generates your assessment using your actual cleaning products, your working heights, your typical properties and your specific exposure scenarios.
The cost of getting it wrong

What happens without proper documentation

Without a documented COSHH Assessment, window cleaners face severe regulatory and financial consequences. The HSE can issue Improvement Notices demanding compliance within specified timescales, or Prohibition Notices immediately stopping your work if risks are serious. Prosecution can result in unlimited fines, and magistrate courts routinely impose penalties between 5,000 and 20,000 GBP for COSHH breaches by self-employed workers. Your public liability insurance becomes void if you lack proper risk assessment documentation, leaving you personally liable for worker or client injuries from chemical exposure or dermatitis claims. Personal liability can exceed 100,000 GBP. Clients, particularly facilities management companies and commercial property managers, now demand evidence of compliance before booking your services. Reputational damage spreads quickly through online reviews when workers develop occupational dermatitis or respiratory issues. CompliantDocs eliminates these risks by delivering your completed, business-specific COSHH Assessment in minutes for 47.99 GBP, a fraction of consultant fees and infinitely cheaper than HSE penalties or personal liability claims.
What you get

Eight documents, all filled in for your business

Your COSHH assessment is part of an eight-document compliance pack for your window cleaning business.
Health and Safety Policy Generated
Written for your business, covering your responsibilities and the measures you have in place
Risk Assessment Generated
Identifying the specific hazards in your work and the controls you have in place
COSHH Assessment Generated
Specific to the chemicals and products you use, with proper hazard and control information
Fire Safety Risk Assessment Generated
Documenting fire hazards, escape routes, and fire safety measures for your premises
Skin Exposure and Dermatitis Prevention Policy Generated
A legal requirement under COSHH for chemical skin exposure risk
Client Consultation Record Word
Ready-to-use editable template for client records and allergy documentation
PAT Testing Checklist Word
For logging PAT tests on all your professional electrical equipment
Accident and Near Miss Log Word
Ready-to-use log for recording any incidents in your working environment
How it works

Four simple steps to full compliance

1

Pay once

Secure checkout via Stripe. One-off payment. No subscription, no renewal fees.

2

Tell us about your business

A short form about your working environment and setup. Takes two minutes.

3

We fill in your documents

Compliance documents completed specifically for your business from your answers.

4

Delivered to your inbox

All documents arrive via secure download link within minutes. Save them, print them, done.

What inspectors check

What an HSE inspector looks for when they visit

When an HSE inspector visits your window cleaning business, they will immediately request your COSHH Assessment document covering the specific cleaning chemicals you use daily. They will examine how you store concentrated solutions, check whether containers are properly labelled with hazard information, and inspect your provision of personal protective equipment such as chemical-resistant gloves and eye protection. The inspector will ask you to name the active ingredients in your window cleaning solutions and describe the exposure hazards you have identified. They will question your workers about skin irritation, rashes or respiratory symptoms, and review whether you have provided information, instruction and training on chemical hazards. They will inspect your water-fed pole system for biocide exposure, check pressure washer detergent storage, and examine your ladder work practices at height while handling wet, slippery surfaces. They will ask for evidence that you have consulted workers about hazards and recorded their feedback. They will review your Accident Log for any dermatitis or chemical-related incidents. CompliantDocs documents provide every answer, every control measure, and every procedure the inspector expects to see, meaning you respond to inspections with confidence and authority.
Common errors

The mistakes most people in your trade make

The first common mistake window cleaners make is treating their COSHH Assessment as a generic one-size-fits-all document rather than a trade-specific evaluation. Using downloaded templates that do not address your actual chemical products, your specific working heights, or your unique dermatitis exposure routes creates a non-compliant assessment that inspectors immediately identify as inadequate. The second mistake is failing to update the assessment when you change cleaning product brands or switch from traditional squeegee systems to water-fed poles, leaving your assessment misaligned with your actual work. The third mistake is ignoring dermatitis prevention as a separate control measure, listing only generic gloves without specifying nitrile thickness, frequency of glove changes, or skin care protocols specific to repeated chemical exposure across multiple properties daily. The fourth mistake is assuming self-employed window cleaners do not need COSHH Assessment documentation, resulting in zero compliance evidence if an inspector visits or a client injury claim arises. CompliantDocs eliminates these mistakes because your documents are generated specifically for your window cleaning business, your actual products, your actual work methods, and your actual exposure scenarios, ensuring every assessment requirement is tailored to your trade and ready for inspector scrutiny.
Questions and answers

Frequently asked questions

Is this right for you?

Who this pack is not designed for

This pack is not suitable for window cleaning companies with 10 or more employees, as larger teams require bespoke risk assessments tailored to complex site-specific hazards and multiple worker competencies. Businesses already working with an occupational health consultant should not duplicate that professional advice. Multi-site operations with franchise models need integrated compliance frameworks beyond sole trader scope. However, if you are a self-employed window cleaner, a micro-business with one or two part-time helpers, or a sole trader expanding your window cleaning operation, this done-for-you compliance pack is precisely designed for your scale and budget.

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Documents filled in for your business, delivered in minutes.

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